Hello, guests who are dreaming to travel to Japan! I'm very sorry that you cannot do so due to the Coronavirus now.
So many guides including me feel so sad about the current situation, and really! really! hope that we can repel the virus and the day will come soon when you can enjoy visiting many places in Japan.
We had been requested to do voluntarily refraining from going out, and now, we are allowed to visit places beyond the prefectural borders. I visited Nara Park and Todaiji Temple by myself after 5 months, in early July 2020.
As you can see, I could find few people there.
There used to be so many people enjoying feeding deer here. (Aug, 2019)
This time, I found many baby deer are born.
Most of the deer may have returned to the wild and were eating grass instead of rice crackers. (I could find only one rice cracker selling stand near 'Namdaimon Gate, Main Southern Gate'.)
The pathway to Todaiji Temple was divided into two, so that people can walk one-way, to avoid crowd.
The pathway used to be like this in October 2019.
Daibutsu, the Great Statue of Buddha which is 15 meters tall, welcomed me warmly as usual. I prayed that we can repel the virus.
Tamon Ten, one of the four guardians, has been always watching so many people are making a long line to try going through the nostril of Buddha, (there is a hole with the same size as Buddha's nostrils, at the bottom of the pillar. Many people want to try going through the hole, wishing their happiness.), however, the hole has been covered to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus infection.
Children who passed this hole are said to grow healthy. (March 2019)
*** May the Great Buddha protect the world and our peaceful usual days return quickly!!! I really want to see and welcome you!!!